FightMeHelen said:
Hello, I've been debating on buying a few diapers online and the "all in one" diapers keep catching my eye but I know very little information on them so some help would be great!
[*]Are "all in one" diapers really worth the money and the hassle? How absorbent, soft, cute are they compared to AB/DL OR other cloth diapers or disposable diapers?
Yes they are worth the money and the hassle of cleaning them as well. They can serve as a novelty item, they are thicker than conventional disposables, they do have very many cute designs to choose from and are very soft. They are absorbent (the act of sucking in moisture) at a good rate, but capacity is rather low. All of the AIO products out there are generally the same comparing capacity. You can add extra padding into them. Generally, disposables have much higher capacities than cloth diapers all together. If you want more capacity, increase the amount of layers.
[*]Should you wear plastic pants over top of them like normal cloth diapers?
Typically AIOs are comparable in capacity to a Depend or store brand diaper, maybe less. It would be a good idea to wear plastic pants. They have the tendency to leak under pressure just like disposables.
[*]Are they able to hold side wettings? (Since I sleep on my side.)
This would be a definite no. These are made to mimic disposables in ease of use and generally have no padding in the wings.
If you want function, especially at night, you'd be better off with classic prefolds. They are easily more customizable, and more convenient to clean. AIOs are difficult to completely clean and eventually will reek of odors. Waterproof barriers are usually the worst part of AIO diapers as they breakdown long before the padding does. It's also very difficult to rinse through. The padding is sewn to the barrier therefore you can't clean all the way through without a lot of soaking and wringing out, and probably will never be 100% clean. You can't bleach it because it deteriorates the padding and barrier.
Prefold diapers paired with plastic pants is the best way to go functionally. Printed plastic pants and prefold diapers are available for looks. Pin alternatives are out there that make prefolds almost as easy as AIOs. You can customize the thickness by adding in toddler prefolds. The crotch is wider and provides more coverage. You can customize the fit and make them fit lower or higher as needed by making small adjustment folds or rolls. Plastic pants come in many different fits and sizes such as higher waist, lower waist, bikini fit, type of material, and ect.
The wider array of designs and prints of AIOs are probably the most attractive part about them along with ease of applying. They are a decent daytime diaper but are not good for night time
